Hanger screamed in pain as the bullet ripped through his sneaker and into his foot. Still screaming, with real tears leaking from his eyes, he hopped up and down on his working foot for a few seconds before sitting down hard.
“Man,” said Ty. “He’s making more noise than Lady Gaga’s dog walker.”
“You motherfucker!” shrieked Hanger. “I told you, I don’t have her.”
Lock stepped in closer so that he was looming over Hanger.
“We can see that,” he said. “So, where is she?”
“Like I’m going to tell you so you can finish me and leave me out here for the coyotes,” Hanger said, rocking back and forth.
Ty raised his gun again. “You’re not answering the question.”
Hanger rocked back and forth, doing his best to reach down to grab his foot. “Why should I?”
“Look, we can kill you out here, head back into town and we’ll find her eventually,” said Lock.
“That’s a good point,” said Ty. “We don’t really need this guy, do we?”
Hanger began laughing. “You’re not gonna find her.”
Something about the way he said it made Lock think that this wasn’t a bluff.
“Oh yeah, and why is that?”
“Because I sold her, and I’m the only person who knows who I sold her to. Without me, you got no chance.”
Lock was about to correct him, but stopped himself. Soothe would likely know. Maybe Hanger was assuming that she was dead. Not that it mattered.
“So, who’d you sell her to?” said Lock.
Hanger clasped his bleeding foot and shook his head slowly from side to side.
“Oh, no. I ain’t telling you.”
“Then what’s the point in us keeping you alive?” asked Ty.
“You have to get me something for my foot. Something to take the edge off,” said Hanger.
“We can do that,” said Lock. “A bullet in the head will certainly take your mind off your foot.”
“Or we could shoot him in the gut and leave him out here,” suggested Ty.
“That’s another option.”
Lock stepped away and waved Ty over to him. They spoke in whispers, but loud enough that Hanger would pick up what was being said.
“He’s full of shit,” said Ty. “She’s out on the track. Metro will pick her up. Maybe not soon, but in the next week for sure.”
“I think you’re right. But let’s not leave him out here. Let’s find somewhere quieter where we can bury him.”
“Okay, man, you want to do it, or do you want me to do it? I’m easy either way.”
“Why don’t we flip for it?” said Lock. “Winner gets to do the deed.”
Ty dug a quarter out of his pocket, ready to flip. “What you want?”
“Heads,” said Lock.
Ty flipped the coin, caught it, and slapped his hand over it, making a show of the whole thing. If Hanger hadn’t heard them, he would get the general idea.
“I’ll take you to her,” shouted Hanger. “I know where she is.”
Ty ignored him. He lifted his hand. “Tails. Lucky me.”
“I’ll take you right to the door,” pleaded Hanger.